Houston Astros at Arizona Diamondbacks Betting Preview 05/05/18

The Arizona Diamondbacks will try to avoid losing their fourth in a row they play host to the Houston Astros at Chase Field. Fox Sports Arizona will televise this interleague matchup and the opening pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET.

Houston Astros vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Odds

Arizona (+105) is the underdog against Houston (-115) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under for this game at 8.5 runs (+100 for the under and -120 for the over). Runline odds stand at +130 for taking the Astros -1.5 runs and -150 for the Diamondbacks +1.5.

The Diamondbacks are 21-11 SU and 17-14 ATS. They’ve gained 12.5 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 4.0 units against the spread (ATS). Arizona has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the under has hit in four of those seven. The Astros are 21-13 SU and have gone 16-17 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 3.0 units for bettors taking the moneyline over the early part of the year and 3.4 units ATS. Houston’s covered the spread just twice over its last seven games and the under has cashed in three of those seven.

Arizona games have an over/under record of 14-15-2 thus far in 2018. The Astros have an over/under record of 13-18-2.

Charlie Morton will get the nod for Houston. The right-handed Morton is 4-0 with a 1.72 ERA and 45 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Diamondbacks this year and only made one start against them in 2017 (1-0, 1.42 ERA and nine strikeouts across six and one-third innings).

The Diamondbacks are putting the ball in the hands of righty Zack Greinke (3-2, 4.50 ERA), who has 42 strikeouts and four walks, as well as a WHIP of 1.08. Greinke only made one start against the Astros in 2017 (1-0, 0.00 ERA and nine strikeouts across six and 2-third innings).

Arizona’s pitching staff has allowed 3.4 runs per game overall this year as a unit. The team’s starting pitching staff has an ERA of 3.74, a WHIP of 1.21 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 10.3. The bullpen has recorded a solid ERA of just 2.14, a WHIP of 1.01 and a K/9 of 8.3.

The Arizona offense is putting up 4.3 runs per contest, including 3.6 per game over its last 10 games and 3.0 per game over its last five. The team has hit .220/.293/.384 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that span.

Outfielders A.J. Pollock and David Peralta have led the way for the Diamondbacks’ hitters this year. Pollock is hitting .299/.357/.667 with 10 home runs, 25 RBIs, 21 runs and eight steals, and Peralta is hitting .288 with five homers, 17 RBIs and 15 runs.

In the visiting dugout, Houston’s pitchers have allowed 2.8 runs per game and its starters own a 2.34 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 10.93 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.43, along with a WHIP of 0.94.

The Astros offense has slashed .253/.334/.397 on its way to 4.8 runs scored per game this season, including 4.7 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 3.0 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).

Houston’s hitters have been led by shortstop Carlos Correa and second baseman Jose Altuve. Correa is slashing .311/.379/.529 with five home runs, 25 RBIs and 22 runs scored, while Altuve is hitting .333/.389/.430 with two homers, 16 RBIs and 20 runs scored.

Altuve performed well against righty pitching on the road in 2017. Over 248 such plate appearances, he maintained a slash line of .393/.460/.680 (compared to his total season line of .345/.409/.547).

The Astros have lost 0.4 units and are 11-11 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has hit in nine of those games, as opposed to 12 that’ve hit the under against righty starters. On the other hand, the Diamondbacks have netted 4.1 units and are 8-8 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has cashed in nine of those games, compared to seven that went under.

Houston Astros vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Free Pick

Predictions: SU Winner – Diamondbacks, ATS Winner – Diamondbacks, O/U – OVER

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